Meat-tendering machine



July 3, 1951 s. M. ABBOTT 2,559,270

MEAT TENDERING MACHINE Filed March 5l, 194? '7 Sheets-Sheetl 1 INVENTOR. Swix M-Abboff Azyg July 3, 1951 s ABBOTT 2,559,270

MEAT TENDERING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

July 3, 1951 s M, ABBOTT 2,559,270

MEAT TENDERING MACHINE Filed March 5l, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NV EN TOR.

July 3, 1951 s. M. ABBOTT 2,559,270

MEAT TENDERING MACHINE Filed March 51, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 M95 96 /o/ 98/ f//g l* IN V EN TOR.

'TSheets-Sheet 5 S. M. ABBOTT MEAT TENDERING MACHINE July 3, 1951 Filed March 51, 1947 i; III

July 3, 1951 ls, M ABBOTT l 2,559,270

MEAT TENDERING MACHINE Filed March 51, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ww f2 INVENTOR;

July 3, 1951 s. M. ABBOTT 2,559,270 MEAT TENDERING MACHINE Filed March 3l, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 IN VEN TOR.

- BY Swix/14AM@ Patented July 3, 1951 MEAT-TENDER/ING MACHINE Scott M. Abbott, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Tenderet Corp., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 31, 1947, Serial No. 738,377

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a meat-tenderizing machine. More specically, it relates to a machine including a multiplicity of knives movable into cutting position for severing the fibers of a iillet of meat in order that the same may be more readily cooked, and the so-called utility grades of meat made more easily masticated.

Manually operated machines of the class pointed out are well-known. One such type is shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,061,799, granted to John C. Hintz on November 24, 1936. The present invention constitutes basic improvements on the type of machine disclosed in that patent to render the same more productive, of greater flexibility in the kind of product available therefrom, and distinctly safer for the operator.

The machine of the patent referred to, as well as the commercial form of machine developed substantially in accordance with the specification thereof, is for manual operation, and requires considerable effort since the operator must not only apply suicient force to cause the knives,

of which there are a large number, to penetrate the meat, but additional force to overcome the spring utilized to restore the cutting head to inactive position following the working downstroke. Obviously, when processing a large number of pieces, a power-actuated device is far more to be preferred than one dependent upon manual operation.

Accordingly, a principal object of my invention is to provide a meat-tenderizing machine which shall be power-driven and automatic in operation.

Another object is to provide a machine oi the type referred to and in which a plurality of parallelly disposed cutting knives are supported in a so-called cutting head for rotation as a group to successive positions for succeeding series of cuts at an angle to the irst, and which machine shall include means for causing automatic indexing of the cutting head to the successive cutting positions.

Still a further object is to provide an automatic machine as noted in the preceding paragraph in which the indexing operation occurs in uniform angular increments independently of conscious action on the part of the operator.

Another aim is to provide an automatic machine of the type referred to in which the reciprocating means causing upward and downward movement of the cutting head is so interrelated with the indexing means as to insure that indexing will occur on each reciprocation, and only after the knives have been withdrawn from the meat following a cutting stroke.

An additional object is the provision of a machine as referred to in which the cutting head is rapidly interchangeable with a die for forming a mass of comminuted meat into a patty, as for Hamburg steak.

A further object is to provide means for detachably securing the cutting head or the pattydie to the reciprocating part of the machine, which means shall be proof against accidental disengagement, and include an adjusting device for determining the relation between ther sharp edges of the knives and the meat-supporting surface to prevent penetration of the surface by the knives, or the relation between the face of the patty-die and said surface whereby different thicknesses of patties may be formed at will.

Still a further object is to provide improved trouble-free means in conjunction with the cutting head for stripping from the knives the meat impaled thereon.

Another object is to provide a machine having safeguards of novel form to prevent injury to the operator.

A further object is the provision of means for automatically feeding portions of meat to the machine for processing thereby, and for removing the processed portions.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings which show certain forms in which the invention may be embodied in practice:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevational view of the machine; j

Fig. 2 shows a combined elevational View and cross section as seen from the right-hand side of the machine;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the machine, parts thereofbeing in cross section; l

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail of the clutch taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; f

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 to show the brake;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 to show the clutch-releasing means;

Fig. l'1 is a detail view in exploded perspective to show the ram, box cam and channel cam;

Fig. 8 is a detail view looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the interrelation of the box cam and ram;

Fig. l0 is a detail view to show the relation of the ram catch and box cam; v Fig. 11 is a detail vieW showing the relationship vided an outer continuous shell 34 to support the two parts comprising the shell 82. Dowels 85 and rivets (not shown) serve to fasten together the several parts just detailed. Secured to the lower face of the cam 8| is an annular Worm gear 86 bearing on a bronze collar 81; and pinned to the upper end of the cam is a cap 88 including a flange 89 upon which the inner race of a ball bearing 92 is press-litted, the other race being pressed into a cavity 93 of the housing 31.

Worm gear 86 is in mesh with a worm 95 (Fig. 4) pinned at 96 to the shaft 91 supported for rotation on radial ball bearings 98 at each end (one only being shown in Fig. 4) A thrust ball bearing IDI and oil seal |02 are provided at the drive end of the shaft 91 for familiar reasons, the other end of the shaft being similar except for the absence of the thrust bearing. A cap |03 is provided (Fig. 3) to enclose the left-hand end of the worm housing portion |04.

Rotation is imparted to the shaft 91 through a clutch (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) comprising a body portion I pinned at H2 to the shaft and including a sheave half H3, the other half H4 being part of a shell-like member H5 freely revoluble on the right-hand end of the shaft 91. A free annular disc H6 is positioned intermediate the sheave halves H3 and H4 and in the idling condition of the machine supports the V-belt ||1 interconnecting the clutch to the drive pulley I8 of the motor 36. An arcuate latch |2| (Fig. 6) is positioned within a slot |22 in the body portion and is pivoted thereto at |23. An adjustable spring-pressed plunger |24 lying in a recess |25 constantly urges the latch |2| in a clockwise sense, as seen in Fig. 6.

The latch |2| includes an arcuate inner recess to define with that end thereof opposite the plunger |24 a blade |3| having a nat left-hand face adapted to lock over the right-hand face of the generally frusto-conical annular member |32 slidable on the shaft 91 and urged to the right by a compression spring |33 lying within the clutch body IH. Member |32 abuts the sheave half ||4 as shown.

For actuating the clutch there is provided a laterally swingable handle |34 (Fig. 3) pivoted at |35 within a V-shaped strap |36 forming part of the housing 31, the forward end of the handle being supported and guided in a similar strap |31. A coiled tension spring |38 interconnecting the housing 31 and handle |34 biases the same t0 the left of olf position, maximum movement to the right or on position being limited by stop screw |40. Also pivoted as at |4| to the strap |36 is the yoke |42 having one end thereof apertured and tting loosely over a stud |43 extending outwardly from the sheave half H4. A nut |44 and locknut |45 are provided for familiar reasons. At its opposite side, the yoke |42 is arcuately bifurcated as at |46 (Fig. 5) and faced with a leather brake shoe |41 to conform to the curvature of the clutch body The rearward terminus of the handle |34 has a cam face |5| adapted to rock the yoke |42.

For the purpose of making adjustments in the mechanism, shaft 91 may be provided with a knurled handle |52 pinned thereto, and by which means the shaft may be rotated manually.

Cutting head 4| is supported for reciprocation and rotation upon the generally cylindrical ram |55 (Fig. 2) having a hollow interior |58 for lightness. Shank 41 fits within an aperture |56 of the sleeve |51 threadedly engaged with the aperture |58 of the ram |55. These threads are of rather ne pitch to permit close adjustment of the sharp edges of the knives 46 (or of the flat lower face of the patty head to be described) with reference to the upper surface of the board |2. Shank 41 has a diametrical hole |59 engaged by a loose pin |60 also passing through one or the other of the diametrically disposed pairs of U-shaped slots |6| in the lower end of the ram |55. A retaining ring |62 slidable axially in a peripheral recess |63 in the ram I 55 locks pin |60 against dislodgment. A headless set screw |64 serves to lock the sleeve |41 in any position to which it may be rotated for adjustment thereof. At its upper end the ram is reduced in diameter to form an extension |65 having the head |66 threadedly engaged therewith, the head terminating in a frusto-conical cap or cam |61. The latter is made separable from the extension |65 only for convenience of assembly. A plunger |68 urged by a spring |69 bears against a screw |1| threaded into the housing |12 secured to the top of the housing 31. Lock nut |13 has an obvious function. The lower end of the ram is sealed with respect to the housing 31 by an oil seal |60' retained by a plate |10, all as is understood in the art.

Cam |61 is adapted to actuate one leg of a bell crank |14 pivoted at |15 to the housing |12, the other leg being connected by a link 16 to a lever |11 pivoted at |18 to the housing 31. The free or right-hand end of the lever |11 carries a dog or nose |19 adapted to cooperate with the latch |2| of the clutch (Fig. 6). A compression spring (Fig. 4) urges the lever |11 constantly counter-clockwise.

Ram |55 (best seen in Fig. 7) includes two integral radial projections l0! and |82, the latter having a cam-follower roller |83 pivoted thereon and adapted to cooperate with the channel 83. Projection 8| not only participates in the reciprocatory and indexing movements of the cutting head 4|, but supports a swinging latch |84 (Fig. 10) pivoted at |85 and normally urged outwardly of the projection by a spring |86. An arcuate slot |81 cooperating with a xed pin |88 limits outward movement of the latch |84.

The channel 83 of the cam 8| comprises a simple rise and fall, the rise being detailed in Fig. 11 and including a shoulder |9| conforming substantially with the curvature of the roller |83, and for a purpose to be described. It is to be noted that Fig. 11 represents the channel cam 8| viewed from its interior.

Surrounding the ram |55 and within the channel cam 8| is the xed box cam |95 (Figs. 2, 7 and 8) secured by screws |96 and dowels |91 to the lower part of the housing 31. Cam is substantially a hollow cylinder and is provided with axially extending slots 20|, in this case four in number but not limited thereto. Slots 20| are straight-sided as shown to receive with a smooth, sliding engagement either of the projections |8| or |82. The entrance of each slot is beveled at one side to provide the plurality of surfaces 202 (Figs. '1 and 10) Operation As heretofore pointed out, the boned-out piece, or pieces, of meat, i. e., llets, are deposited on the board I2 while it lies in operative position as shown, or the board may be withdrawn from its guides, loaded, and then placed in position for the tendering operation. It is not essential that the llets be disposed in any particular orientation since, as will appear, any part of the board may be readily brought into position under the zone of action of the knives. Assuming that the llet 20D indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2 has been processed, a succeeding piece may be brought into operative position by combined right-and-left and rearward-and-forward movements imparted to the board I2. That is to say, it is unnecessary that the operator actually pick up the pieces of meat and thereby place his hands within the cutting zone. In fact this safeguard constitutes a salient feature of the invention in that prior devices were not provided with means for manipulating the meat from points disposed safely outside the zone of operation to insure safety to the operator in the event of unintended movement of .the cutting head.

Board I2 is slidable right and left between the rails I8 and surface II; and is movable fore and aft upon the rods 22. Accordingly, not only may a fillet of a size lying within the area of the knives 48 be positioned therein, but should the fillet be of a size incapable of being completed on two intersecting series of cuts, the board I2 may be manipulated as aforesaid to bring all of the fillet within the cutting zone. As pointed out, guards I5 and 32 are effective to prevent any accidental movement of the operators fingers to within the cutting zone.

The meat now being generally within the cutting zone, or manipulatable thereinto as aforesaid, operation of the machine may be initiated. In order further to insure against the operators right hand being within the range of the knives, the clutch heretofore detailed is of the type disengageable automatically after a single revolution or number thereof, viz., the clutch must be engaged by a conscious movement of the operator, and providing the clutch handle is released, the clutch will disengage after having made that number of revolutions corresponding to one revolution of the cam 8| in the manner to be described. The speed of the motor 36, the ratio between the wo-rm 85 and gear 86 and the ratio between the driving and driven sheaves are unimportant just so long as these are within the limits, of good design. At the termination of one complete reciprocation of the head 4|, and provided .handle Id is released, the head stops at the top of the upstroke. However, if the clutch handle is held to on position, the head con. tinues through its reciprocations. One cycle 0f the unit as hereinafter referred to will mean one downstroke and one upstroke, i. e., one complete reciprocation of the cutting head, while indexing of the head about the axis of the cam 8| will refer to rotation of the head by increments of 90.

With the motor 35 ruiming and the clutch disengaged, the belt II'I will merely rotate the idling ring H8. However, swinging of the handle |34 to the right cams the yoke |62 in a counterclockwise sense (Fig. 3) whereupon sheave half II and ring IIE are slid upon the shaft 91 to pinch the belt II'I between said half and the other half II3. Simultaneously the member |32 is locked to the left by engagement of its righthand face against the left-hand face of the latch |2| which is at this time in the full line position (Fig. 6). Consequently the belt may rotate the entire clutch and with it the shaft 91, worm 95 and worm gear 86, and such rotation will continue so long as the handle |34 is held on, or, if the handle is released immediately the clutch will rotate until the ram has made one complete reciprocation in the manner to be hereinafter detailed.

Rotation of gear 86 carries with it the cam 8|, which latter will then actuate roller |83 to move the ram |55 through a complete reciprocation during every revolution of the cam. In order to impart indexing movement to the ram the arcuate shoulder IQI abuts the periphery of the roller |83 and thus carries the ram with it. Assuming the parts to be in the relative position shown in Fig. 7 with the projections IBI and |82 resting on the top edge of the box cam |95 channel cam 8| and ram |55 will rotate together a small angular distance until the trailing edge of the projection |8| encounters a bevel surface 282 whereupon the ram will begin to descend the incline 282.

Due to the weight of the ram and of the cutting head 4|, the projection |8| will finally enter the slot 2D I, and is positively moved downwardly into the slot by the channel cam 83, because, by the time the leading edge of the projectionk |8| encounters the left-hand edge of the slot 20| (Fig. 10) the roller |83 has moved downwardly with the ram away from the shoulder ISI, and the. channel cam rise and fall portion may become effective. In this connection the clearance between the roller |83 and the lower edge of the channel 83 will be noted (Fig. 11).

Upon upstroke of the ram by virtue of channel B3 there is a tendency, under certain conditions arising principally out of momentum of the parts, for the projection IBI to return immediately to the same slot 20| from which it has just risen. To avoid such accidental occurrence, I provide the latch |84 heretofore detailed. Upon approach of s the projection ISI to the left-hand edge of a slot 20|, the latch |84 is Vthrust to a position within the projection against the spring |88 and the ram may descend. However, upon upstroke thereof the spring opens the latch which may then vengage over the upper periphery of the box cam |95 to prevent accidental descent of the ram (Fig. 10, dotted line position). Succeeding strokes of the ram are identical with the one just described, each of the four slots 28| permitting four independent reciprocations of the ram. It will now be apparent that the cam |85 may have more or less than four slots 20|.

Each stroke of the cutting head 4I causes the knives QB to penetrate the piece of meat 20|) and thus to sever the fibers as is understood in this art, the following stroke of the head, being in the instant example, displaced 90 angularly, causing the knives to cut the meat in a direction at right angles to the first. By means of succeeding strokes spaced 90 angularly apart thorough processing of the meat is assured. Furthermore by shifting the board I2 between strokes every part of the fillet may be effectively operated upon.

While the knives H6 are closely spaced endwise as well as parallelly, and while the cutting head moreover indexes between strokes, it may be desirable in some instances to shift the board |2 to make additional cuts intermediate the preceding ones, and the means provided therefor and already described offer a safe, simple way of reaching this end. By providing a flat-bottomed pan in lieu of the board I2 and fixing its periphery to correspond with the arc of swing of that corner f of the head III most distant from the axis thereof spring |69 acting in cooperation with the plunger |68 exerts the required counteracting pressure. Adjustment of the spring tension is effected by screw |1|. By providing plunger |68 against the spring the ram |55 is free to rotate Without subjecting the spring to torsional stresses.

As heretofore pointed out, the clutch will remain engaged as long as handle |34 is held to the right. However, upon release of this handle it is important that the clutch be disengaged automatically when the cutting head 4| is at the top of the upstroke then being performed. To this end the head |61 will, upon movement of the ram |55 to uppermost position, actuate bell crank |14 and hence link |16 and lever |11 (Fig. 1) to carry the dog |19 into the path of the clutch latch |2| (Fig. 6). Accordingly, when the normally protruding tail of the latch strikes the dog |19, the latch is rocked counter-clockwise from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6, to release the blade |3| from latching relation with the member |32 (Fig. 4) whereupon spring |33 is effective to force the member and sheave half H4 to the right. Belt |1 again runs idle and the mechanism comes to rest. To compensate for overtravel of the clutch due to momentum, release of the handle |34 allows the brake shoe |41 (Fig. 5) to contact the clutch body I, braking pressure being applied through spring |33.

Reverting to Figs. l, 2 and 12, the stripper rods 56 are adapted to be actuated upon the upstroke of the cutting head 4|. Thus, normally the latches 63 are engaged in their respective notches 62 and fingers 65 are inclined inwardly and upwardly. As the head moves to its uppermost or rest position, the fingers 65 are caused to strike the plate and thus depressed, whereupon latches 63 rotate the bails 52 about their pivots 51 to swing the two sets of rods 5| outwardly of the knives 46 to strip the meat therefrom. In

order that the rods 5| make rapid return, i. e.`

snapped to concealed (full line) position, the latches 63 are adapted, upon full depression of the lingers 65, to release from the notches 62 (see dot-and-dash showing of Fig. 12), whereupon springs 13 and 14 in cooperation with the lugs 12 return the rods to concealed position with a. trigger motion. By so doing no interference with the cutting function can result, as might otherwise be the case if return of the rods 5| were effected positively rather than trip-actuated. It will be understood that the device of the instant invenftion is designed for high-speed operation, and it is therefore important that stripping of the meat and return of the stripping rods to normal be accomplished as rapidly as possible.

It is desirable to be able to adjust the relationship of the sharp edges of the knives 4E with reference to the top surface of the board |2. Such adjustment must be capable of being effected by small increments since it is desirable for the knives to cut entirely through the meat but not to penetrate the board. The latter situation, if allowed to continue, would eventually so `macerate the board as to give rise to splinters and consequent danger of contaminating the meat placed thereon. I provide such preferred minute adjustment by means of the sleeve |41 and pin |60 (Fig. 2), viz. by lifting the ring |62 upwardly the pin may be pushed out of the pair of slots |6| and aperture |59, and the head 4| thereby removed. Then by rotating the sleeve |51 upon its threads the same may be raised upwardly or downwardly and the pin 60 reinserted. By providing two sets of slots |6| there will beat least one setclose to the desired position, and, since. theV pitch of the threads of the sleeve is small, say 24 threads per inch, extremely fine adjustments may be effected. After reinsertion of the pin the ringv |62 is dropped thereover to prevent accidental dislodgment thereof. The set screw |65 is provided to maintain the sleeve |51 in its desired position in order that the head 4| when removed for daily cleaning or servicing may be replaced without disturbing the position of the sleeve, thepin |60 permitting rapid detachment and attachment of the head 4|. The lower flange of the sleeve |51 may be provided with peripheral notches for a Spanner or hook wrench.

The invention is not limited in its use to tendering of steaks, cutlets and other fillets, but is capable of forming hashed or minced meat into patties and Frenching the latter being the flattening of certain cuts, e. g., pork or beef tenderloin slices to render them of larger area for ease in cooking. For these and other purposes, I provide a die 2||) (Fig. 16) preferably of circular form and flat-bottomed, there being an integral shank or post 2|| corresponding to the post 41 of the cutting head 4| and engageable similarly with the sleeve |51. indexing movement of the ram |55 is without significance in the present instance since only the reciprocatory stroke is needed. Nonetheless no interference with the patty forming or Frenching operations will be encountered by reason of such indexing.

Of particular importance isthe improved tensioning means for the return of the stripper rods 5| and their retention in normal or concealed position within the spaces between the knives 46. It is to be noted that the leaf springs 13 and 14 not only act in conjunction with the lugs 12 to return the rods, but due to the over-center action of the springs in relation to the pivots 51 the rods are effectively retained in normal position. Prior means intended to perform these same functions and taking the form of coil springs have proved unreliable and short-lived. The construction and arrangement of springs herein disclosed is positive, and practically indestructible.

In Fig. 17, I have shown somewhat schematically a further embodiment of the invention in which the machine is adapted for continuous operation. As there shown, the tenderizing machine 225 is substantially as heretofore described except for certain modifications to be hereinafter pointed out. In this embodiment, the board I2 and the guiding means therefor are dispensed with, and in lieu thereof the fillets of meat are individually supported on wood or equivalent panels 221 united into a conveyor belt by links 228, the panels being adapted for sliding movement across the surface The machine may be mounted on a suitable table, for example, one having a fiat top with a depression therein to receive the base of the machine, and the depression being of such depth as to align the surface with the surface of the table, Accordingly, the several panels 221 are supported for sliding movement on the surface of the table.

Panels 221 are united, as stated, in the form of a continuous belt, the end loops whereof carried on suitable pairs of sprockets 232 supported for rotation on a shaft 233, only one sprocket of a pair and one shaft being visible in the ligure. It will be understood that the shafts 233 are carriedin suitable bearings.

Rotation is impartedto the sprockets 232 by a pinion and gear 234 and 235respectively. Pin- However, the

fof any type, for example, disc, jaws or any other type of engagement found adapted to drive a assaevo ion .234 is driven through one half 236 of a clutch 238 thereof being keyed to Clutch 231 may be including a friction 231, the other half the shaft of the motor 24|.

suitable for the intended purpose.

Assuming that the llets of meat, each of which is supported on a panel 221, are to be brought singly and successively within the working Zone of the head 22B and that each is to be subjected to two cutting strokes, the conveyor belt must be stepped along the distance of lone panel 221 for two strokes of the head. Inasmuch as the speed ratio of the shaft 91 and of the channel cam causing actuation of the head 226 may vary as heretofore explained, and in any event the shaft 91 preferably makes several revolutions for each such stroke, I prefer to interconnect or synchronize the strokes of the head 226 with the stepby-step movement of the conveyor belt by means of the character shown. That is to say, a pinion 243 may be connected to the shaft 91 in lieu of the handle |52, and such pinion is gear 244 supported for rotationl in any suitable manner on the frame of the machine 225. A cam 245 is affixed to the gear 244 and is adapted to rock an arm 246 attached to one end of the shaft 241, the latter being supportedV in xed bearings 248. A tension spring 25| provides the necessary force to maintain the arm 24B in contact with the cam 245. To that end .of the lshaft 241 adjacent the clutch 231 there is affixed a fork or equivalent clutch operating kmeans 253.

Accordingly, by proper selection of the ratiobetween the pinion 243 and gear 244, the fork 253 is caused to engage and disengage the clutch 231 once for every two strokes of the cutting head 225. Therefore, assuming a piece of meat to be in position on its panel 221 'and underneath the head 226 kthe first stroke thereof will provide a series of cuts in lone direction of the meat and the succeeding stroke a series of cuts at an angle of 90 thereto. Meanwhile, the cam 245 is rotating and will, upon the completion of the last cutting stroke, and following the stripping of the meat from the knives as heretofore explained, actuatc the clutch 231 to carry the next piece of meat into yposition under the cutting head. Operation of the machine 225 is generally as heretofore described, including the use of the clutch handle |34 to stop and start the machine. The processed meat may be removed from the panel 221V by an operator or merely delivered therefrom onto a fixed table or second conveyor. The operator 'may load the meat on the panels 221 by using her left hand, while operating the handle `|34 with her right.

It will be obvious that alternative arrangements may be used to convert the machine of the instant invention to continuous operation, that shown in Fig. 17 being only one preferred form. For example, a solenoid-controlled clutch 231 may be used, the necessary circuit closing impulses being through contacts operated by a cam on the gear 244. The fundamental requisite in the modified form shown in Fig. 17 is the means for synchronizing the strokes of the machine with the intermittent movement of the belt carrying the pieces of meat under the cutting head.

Whether the unit is of the principal form first described herein or the alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 17, I may Varrange to dispense with the indexing movement of the cutting head and in lieu thereof provide mechanism 'for indexing .the table that .supports the pieces of meat. In

any event, it is intended that the reciprocation ofthe cutting head and the relative rotation of the meat and cutting head be synchronized in order that such rotation will occur after the meat has been stripped from the cutting knives, and prior to the time the head has descended to the point where thel next cut begins.

The machine is not limited in its application to the tenderizing of fillets of meat, patty forming, Frenching, mincing or other operations upon meat products but may be utilized, for example, in the mincin'g of vegetables. Moreover, it is within the contemplation of the invention to substitute for the cutting head shown and described, one equipped with a honeycomb arrangement of knives for cubing food products, for example, carrots, and then by utilizing stripping means in the form of plungers individual to and within each cell of the honeycomb, to strip from the knives any of the diced products which may cling thereto.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to .constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a head including bladed means for operating on a product, a ram for supporting said head, means associated with said ram for reciprocating said ram and for indexing `said ram through predetermined angular` increments including a follower carried by said ram Yand a cam in operative relation with said follower, a hollow cylindrical second cam surrounding the ram, a second follower carried 'by said ram, and said second cam having a plurality of axially-disposed .slots operatively engageable by-said second follower, said rstmentioned cam includ-ing an actuating portion kfor indexing said ram and a portion for reciprocating rsaid-ram, said slots being adapted to determine the ,extent of each .indexing movement lof said `first-mentioned cam.

2. v,A machine of the class described comprising a head including bladed means for Ioperating on .a product, a reciprocable and rotatable member forsupportng said head, means associated with said member for effecting reciprocation of said member including a cam having a simple rise and fall cam surface and a follower engageable therewith and carried by said member, said cam also including a shoulder forming part of said surface adapted to engage said follower to impart rotation to said member, .and means .associated with said member for determining the angular extent of such rotation.

3. A machine as in claim 2 in which said rotation-limiting means includes a fixed box-.cam having a plurality of slots therein and said .member includes a portion adapted to enter a slot upon rotary movement of said member.

4. Amachine as in claim 3 in which said .boxcam is of hollow cylindrical form and vthe .slots are provided in the wall thereof, and each said slot is beveled at that side thereofV whereat the said portion is adapted to enter to vfacilitate such entry.

5., A machine of the class` described comprising ahead including bladed means for operating on a product, a reciprocable and rotatable member for supporting said head, means associated with said member for eiecting reciprocation of said member, and means associated with said member for rotatably indexing said member including an element having a plurality of slots therein disposed parallel to the axis of reciprocation, said member having a portion selectively engageable in any of said slots, a latch associated with said portion and adapted to move to inactive position when said portion enters a slot upon reciprocation of said member in one sense and movable to active position when said portion has withdrawn from the slot upon return reciprocation of said member, the interengagement of the portion and slot indexedly positioning said member in a selected angular position.

6. In a machine of the class described for use with a frame and a base member provided with a surface to receive a product to be operated on, the combination comprising a head having bladed means for operating on the product, a member for supporting said head and carried in the frame for reciprocating movement, means associated with said member for reciprocating said member, power-driven means and clutch means operatively connected intermediate said reciprocating means and power-driven means, manually operated means associated with said clutch means for engaging said clutch means, and means operatively connected to said clutch means and actuable upon the return stroke of a reciprocation to disengage said clutch means.

7. A machine for operating upon a meat product comprising in combination a head including bladed means for operating on a product, means associated with said head for combinedly reciprocating and indexing said head, a series of interconnected product-supporting panels, means for positioning said panels singly and successively in operative relation with said head, power-driven means for said panel-positioning means, powerdriven means for said head-reciprocating and indexing means, and an operative connection between said last mentioned power-driven means and said power-driven panel-positioning means including a clutch means and means associated therewith for engaging and disengaging said clutch means for intermittently driving said panel positioning means.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a head including bladed means for operating on a product, means associated with said head for supporting said head for reciprocating movement, power-driven means for reciprocating said supporting means, a member carried by said headsupporting means coactible with said powerdriven means to interrupt the reciprocating movement upon the return stroke of a reciprocation,

said power-driven means including a power source, a clutch, a handle for conditioning said clutch for driving, and mechanism interconnecting said head-supporting means and clutch for disengaging said clutch upon the return stroke of a reciprocation.

SCOTT M. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,061,799 Hintz Nov. 24, 1936 2,217,763 Moldawsky Oct. 17, 1940 2,253,123 Hart Aug. 19, 1941 2,293,094 Abbott Aug. 18, 1942 

